description William S. Burroughs Overview
William Seward Burroughs was an American inventor who patented the first practical mechanical adding machine with a built-in printer in 1888. Before his invention, banking and accounting calculations were performed manually, leading to frequent errors. Burroughs founded the American Arithmometer Company in 1886, which was later renamed the Burroughs Adding Machine Company and eventually became the Burroughs Corporation, a major player in the development of business computing equipment throughout the 20th century.
help William S. Burroughs FAQ
What did William S. Burroughs invent in 1888?
William Seward Burroughs patented the first practical mechanical adding machine equipped with a built-in printer in 1888. This invention revolutionized accounting by completely automating the tedious and error-prone process of manual mathematical calculations.
How is William S. Burroughs related to the Burroughs Corporation?
He was the founding father of the American Arithmometer Company, which he started in 1886 to manufacture his calculating machines. After his death, this company was eventually renamed the Burroughs Corporation, which grew into one of the largest computer manufacturers in the United States.
Is William S. Burroughs the inventor the same person as the Beat Generation author?
No, he is the grandfather of the famous Beat Generation author who shares his exact name, William S. Burroughs. The inventor established the family fortune with his adding machine, which later allowed his grandson to pursue a full-time career in avant-garde writing.
How did the Burroughs adding machine function?
The machine used a system of gears and levers driven by the user pulling a handle on the side of the heavy metal casing. It featured a printing mechanism that used a ribbon to stamp the numerical results onto a paper roll, creating a permanent physical record of the calculations.
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